Seal press



July 31, 1928.

C. (I. GIBSON SEAL PRESS Filed Sept. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 31, 1928.

c. c. GIBSON.

SEAL PRESS- Filed Sept. 4, 1325 2 Sheets-Sheet ill Patented July El, 1928'.

s'rarss CALDER C. GIBSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SEAL PRESS. 7

Application filed September This invention relates to a seal press of the type employed by courts, notaries public and corporations for impressing a seal on documents or other papers.

One of the objects of the invention is to so construct the frame that the same. is stronger and can stand in an upright position on a table or similar support,-wliich is small enough to be carried in the pocket and which will also permit of curling the sheet which to be stamped or sealed so that the impression can be placed further from the edge of the sheet.

Another object of this invent-ion is to pro vide means which will positively prevent the counter plate from turning on the frame and also permit of readily attaching the'co'unter plate to and removing the same from the frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide an in'mroved linger grip which is mounted advantageously on the frame and also an improved link which connects the finger grip with the operating lever of the press and which cannot easily slip out of the fingers and also capable of being readily adjusted to length in order to hold the press tightly in its closed position.

A further object of this invention is to mount the die lever on the frame in such a manner as will overcon'ie side thrust and to provide this lever with means for ready attachment thereto of spring whereby the die lever is yieldingly hold in an elevated inoperative position.

A still. further object of this invention is to improve the means for detachably mounting the die 1 the die lever and permit of turning the the about its axis into any de-- sired po tion.

An and tonal object of this invention is to provide an improved operating lever whereby the forward or opening movement of the same is arrested by engagement with the die lever and its backward or closing movement is arrested by engagement of the same with the top of the frame and thereby prevents undue strain on the latter under excessive pressure. also to prov c convenient 'means for attaching the locking link'thercto. and also to so construct the handle of this lever 4, 1925. Serial No. 54,424.;

that the hand of the operator using the same is not liable to be pinched or injured. 1 In the accompanying drawings 1 Figure 1, is a sideelevation of my improved seal press. I I

Figure 2, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. I

Figure 3, is a vertical transverse section of the same taken on line 83, F ig. 2.

F1 gure 4, is a fragmentary horizontal section taken online 4.-i, Fig. 2.

Figure 5, is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Figure 6, is av vertical transverse section taken on line 66, Fig. 2. Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views, respectively, of the frame locking"- linlnoperating lever and die carrying lever. Figure 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the rear part of the sealing press showing a modification in the manner of mounting the lower end of the locking link.

Figure 12, is a fragmentary vertical transverse section showing another form of the 75 looking link and the manner of mounting the same on the finger grip.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The frame of the press is constructed fro'n'i a single sheet of metalwhich is stamped to form a base 20 and'an arm 21 projecting upwardly and forwardly from the rear part of the base so that a forwardly and laterally 3 opening mouth or gap 22 is formed be.- tween the front parts of the base and overhanging arm. The base comprises a bottom which is horizontal at its front and rear ends so that the same can rest flat on a table or so similar support and thus enable the frame and the parts mounted thereon to stand. in

an upright position if this is desired. This bottomhas a wide front part 23 preferably" of" circular form while its rear part 24: is or) narrow and provided with substantially parallel edges. A marginal wall. rises from the v edge of the bottom, that portion 25 of this wall surrounding the circular front part of the same being of cylindrical form, those 1 parts 26 immediately in rear of this cylindrical part being parallel, and the rear transverse part 27 of the same being curved slightly upward. The arm of the frame con sists of two side pieces or sections each of which has a front web 28 which is ofiset laterally outward and is arranged in. the same plane as the rear wall portion 26 of the base on the corresponding side of the frame and a rear web 29 which is offset laterally inward from the front web 28 and merges at its rear end into one end of the transverse rear part 27 of said base wall, and a'front check 30 Which connects at its rear end with the front and rear webs 28, 29 and is offset laterally outward beyond the plane of both of these webs.

For the purpose of strengthening this f "aine and preventing distortion thereof by torque stresses and also to provide a seat of wide area for the'counter die plate'a laterally projecting flange 31 is provided which extends continuously around theupper edge of the cylindrical wall portion 25, and also along the inner edges of both arm sections, thereby also bounding the entire gap or mouth of the frame and avoiding the presentation of narrow cutting edges so that the sheets to be sealed upon engaging the same are not likely to be injured. The two side pieces of the frame arm are braced relatively to each other by a transverse brace pin 19 connecting the upper rear parts of these side pieces, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, thereby materially strengthening the frame.

The numeral 32 represents the counter die plate which carries the counter 33 on its up per side and which is preferably constructed of metal in the form of a disk which rests on the seat provided by the upper side of the-portion of the flange 31 arranged around the upper edge of the cylindrical wall 25. This counter die plate is held in place by a retainer which preferably consists of a ret aining plate of metal having a wide circula-r front part 34 arranged within the upper part of the cylindrical wall 25 and having a downwardly dished center 35 and a circular flange 36 depending from its margin and enga ing with the inner side of the cylindrical wall, and a narrow part or tongue 37 projecting rearwardly from the wide c rcular part in between the adjacent closely spaced rear walls 26 of the base, as shown in Fig. 4:. The counter die is secured to the die plate by fusion or any other suitable manner, the retaining plate is secured to the counter die plate by spot welding or otherwise and the retaining plate is detachably fastened to the top of the cylindrical front part of the base by a fastening screw 38 having a conical head engaging acounter sunk seat 4O on the under side of the front part of the base while Its threaded shank engages a threaded opening 39 in thedepressed center of the retaining plate, as best shown in 2. By providing the retaining plate with a reared stem 12 .which engages with a threaded recess 43 on the underside of a screw nut 44, the upper side 45 of this nut being closed and presenting a fiat bearing surface for the means which are adapted to depress and close the die and die counter relatively to each other. The die is supported and guided in its movements toward and from the die counter by means which include a longitudinal die lever supporting the die at its front end while its rear end is arranged between the side pieces of the frame arm and pivoted thereto by ahorizontal pivot pin 46 passing transversely through the in wardly offset webs of the side pieces and the rear end of the die lover. The die lever is constructed from a single. sheet of metal and has a channel shaped body the hollow side of which faces downwardly towards this base. The front part 4.7 of this body is offset upwardly so as to clearthe mouth or gap of the frame and the same is comparatively wide so that its opposite side fits against the inner sides of the outwardly oil'- set webs of the frame arm, as shown in Fig. 5, and are guided between the same during the vertically swinging movement of the die lever. The rear part 48 of the body of the die lever is off set downwardly and the same is narrower than the front part of the body and {its between the inwardly offset webs of the frame arm, as shown in Fig. 5, andthe adjacent part of its side flanges receive the pivot pin 46. At its depressed front end the body of the die lever is provided with an integral horizontal eye 49 which receives the threaded stem 42 and said die being drawn against the underside of the eye by engagement of the screw nut 44: with the upper side of the same, as shown in Fig. 2. By loosening this screw nut the die may be freely rotated about its axis into any desired position and then clamped in place by tighteningthis nut. In order to couple the clamping nut permanently with the die lever and still permit of removing the die therefrom when desired, the clamping nut has its lower part projecting through the opening in the eye L9 and its lower end upset or swaged against the underside of this eye as shown at 50 in Fig. 2, thereby permitting this nut to turn but preventing removal thereof from the die lever. On its periphery the clamp-nut is provided with facets 51 for receiving a wrench to tighten or loosen the die on the die lever. v

The die lever and the die mounted thereon are yieldingly held in an elevated position by a spring 52 preferably of helical form arranged vertically in rear of the die counter retainer and between the rear walls of the base, and bearing at its upper end against the depressed rear part of the die lever body and its lower end against the bottom of the base. Lateral displacement of this spring is avoided by a teat 53 struck upwardly from the bottom of the base and entering the lower end of this spring and a pair of lugs 54 projecting downwardly from the sides of the die lever body and entering the upper end of this spring, as shown in 4 Fig. 2.

Depressions of the die lever for moving the die toward the die counter is effected by means of a hand operated lever the body 55 which is of channel form in cross section with its hollow side facing downwardly. Thebody is arranged lengthwise between the side pieces of the frame arm and the front ends 56 of its side flanges are spread apart and fit the widely spread cheeks of the frame arm, as shown in Fig. 3, and are pivoted thereto by a transverse pin 57, while the rear parts 58 of its side flanges are contracted or spaced closer together and engage with the inner sides of the inwardly offset webs of the frame arm, as'shown in Fig. 6, whereby this lever is reliably guided in i s movements and operates the die lever properly. Below its pivot or fulcrum'the operating hand lever is provided with a bearing roller 59 which is pivotally mounted on the adjacent parts of the widely spaced front parts 56 ofits side flanges by a pin 60' and whichengages its underside with the fiat upper side of the clamping nut whereby the die is secured to the die lever. Upon depressing the rear end of the hand lever the roller 59 forces the die downwardly toward the (lie counter and produces an impression of the engraving or stamping or'both on the sheet which has been placed between the die and die counter. downward pressure on the hand lever the separates the die and die counter,

and permits the withdrawal of the impressed Upon releasing the or guard and stop 61 of upwardly dished form is secured lengthwise over the rear part of the hand lever by spot welding or otherwise, which shield projects laterally from the hand lever and overhangs the sidepieces of the frame arm and thereby prevents the hand from being caught between the frame arm and the hand lever while operatingthe press, and also limiting the closing movement of the hand lever by engagement of this shield with the upper edges of they or holding the seal press in the hand and placing the palm of the hand on the hand lever and one finger in the finger piece or grip 62 which is secured to the upper side of the-rear part of the base and pressing the frame and handle together. Instead of engaging a finger withthe finger ring the base of the frame may be pressed upwardly by engaging the fingers with the underside of the rear part of the base. Thefinger piece preferably has the form of a-ring made by bending a piece of band metal into a circle so that its ends overlap and then securing these overlapping ends to each other and to the rear part of the base bottom by rivet (53, as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of rendering'the seal press compact while the same is transported or stowed away a catch or locking link 64;,is provided having an opening 65 at its lower end which receives the linger ring .62 and is thereby permanently connected therewith and havin a similar opening 66 at its upper end which is adapted to engage with a hook 67 formed integrally on the rear end of the hand lever in the closed position of the latter, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby lock the press in a compact condition and preventing dirt from getting on the die surfaces.

In the preferred construction of the looking link thecentral part of the same isprovided with one or more transverse crimps or corrugations (58, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8. This form of link can be more easily manipulated by the fingers without slipping and the same can also be easily shortened or lengthened for varying the extent of its corrugations by the means of a suitable tool, such as a pair of pliers or ahammen and thereby permit of fitting the link so as to hoid the parts of the press in their fully closed position and-prevent rattling as well its-accidental disengagement of the parts or opening of the press.

vOwing to the extended surface-presented by the wide flat area on the underside of the base it is possible to stand the press in an I an upright position on a table, shelf or other support when the same is not in use and still permit of applying palm and finger pressure when using the same for sealing papers and the like.

By strengthening the frame and shaping the dielever in the manner described the mouth or gap in the same may be made of ample dimensions and suflicient clearance is provided to permit of curling the edge of the sheet a greater extent and enable the im pression of the seal to be made a greater distance from the edge of the material.

Instead of mounting the lower end of the looking or retaining link on the finger grip or ring 62, as shown in Fig. 2, this link may be mounted on the adjacent rear part of the frame by means of an attaching link 69 pivoted at its lower end by means of a pin 70 on the rear part of the main frame and engaging its upper end with the lower part of the locking or retaining link, as shown in Fig. 11. i V j i If desired the lower end of the locking or retaining link may be connectedwith the finger-grip 62 in the manner indicated in Fig. 12 in which. case the lower end of the retaining link 71 is provided with two downwardly projecting lugs 72 which straddle the upper part of the linger ip 62 and a rivet '73 which connects th l r 72 the inner side of this finger gi ts. i iis mentioned construction permits of attaching the link 71 to the linger grip as well a removing the same therefrom without disturbing the connection between this finger grip and the rear part of the main frame.

1 claim as my invention 1. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly, said base having a horizontal bottom and a wall rising from the edge of the base and said arm having two sections rising from the rear parts of the wall of said base, the front part of said base being wide and of circular form and the rear part of the same being comparatively narrow, and the front part of said wall being of cylindrical form and the rear parts thereof substantially parallel, and eachof said arm sections hav ing an outwardly oifset front web which 18 arranged in the same plane as the rear wall part on the correspond ng side of the base and an inwardly offset rear web which is arranged inwardly from the companion front web and a check arranged at the front ends of said webs and offset outwardly from both of said webs.

2. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and for 7 tom which is wide and circular at its said base having a horizontal botfront end and narrow and lengthwise elongated wardly,

the inner underside of said die the upper )art of s;

at its rear end and a wall rising from the margin of said bottom and having a cylindrical front part and parallel rear parts and said arm having sections rising from the rear parts of said walls, a flange projec ng later lly from the upper edge of the cy indrical part of said wall and from edges ofsaid arm sections, a die counter plate on that part of said flange arranged the upper edge of said e; icj ical wall portion, a retaining plate secured to the underside of said die counter plate and having a circular front part arre (l within the upper part of said cylindrical wall and a narrow tongue projecting from thecircuiar "1 part of the retainplate rearwaidly between the parallel vi'all parts on said hott mi 3. ii seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly. said base having a horizontal bottom which is wide and circular at its front narrow and lengthwise elongatec rear end and a wall from the of said bottom and having a cylinand parallel rear parts,

secti r sing from the is, a ti gerprojecting he'upper edge of the cylini, wall and in the inner Id arm sections a die counter i st'ng on that part of said flange ard at the uppe ed of said cylindrical v. all portiom a. retaming plate secured to the counter plate and having a circul r front f i d within narrow tongue 1? V lar front part of tl inning plate rearwardly between the parallel rear wall parts on said bottom said circular front part of the retaining plate having a depending flange engaging with. the inner side of said circular wall and the center of said central part being dished downwardly and provided with a screw threaded opening and a fastoning screw having its head bearing against the under side of 'd bottom and, its screw threaded shank e with the threaded opening of said i plate.

4:. A seal. press 1 in a frame provided with a base and'en a .n projecting from the reir part of said bani upwardly and forwardly and cons" of two spaced apart sections each v .ch has an outwardly offset front web and an inwardly offset rear web, a die counter mounted onthe front part of said base, a die movable toward and from the die counter a die lever arranged bepart of the base, a die cooperating with the die counter and movable toward and from the same, a die lever arranged between said arm sections and having its front end supporting said die and its rear end pivoted on said arm sections, said die lever having its body constructed in the form of a channel which opens downwardly and provided on its sides with .downwardly projecting lugs, a spring which its at its upper end around said lugs and bears at its lower end against said base, and a hand lever pivoted on said arm and operating said die lever.

6. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die cooperating with said die counter and having an upwardly projecting screw stem, a die lever pivoted at its rear end on said arm and provided at its front end with an eye the underside of which is engaged by said die and the opening in which receives said screw stem, a screw nut which receives said screw stem and which bears against the upper side of said eye, and a hand lever pivoted on said arm and engaging said screw nut.

7. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die cooperating with said die counter and having an upwardly projecting screw stem, a die lever pivoted at its rear end on said arm and provided at its front end with an eye the underside of which is engaged by said die and the opening in which receives said screw stem. a screw nut engaging with the top of said eye and having a threaded recess in its lower end which receives said screw stem and a closed top, and a hand lever pivoted on said arm and engaging the top of said nut.

8. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die cooperating with said die counter and having an upwardly projecting screw stem, a die lever pivoted at its rear end on said arm and provided at its front end with an eye the underside of which is engaged by said die and the opening in which receives said screw stem, a screw nut engaging the top of said eye and having its lower end passing through the opening of said eye and upset against the underside thereof and also provided with a threaded recess which receives said stem, and a hand lever pivoted on said arm and engaging said nut.

9. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly and consisting of two spaced apart sections, the front ends of said sections being widely spaced apart and those parts of said sections in rear of their front ends being spaced closer together, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die c-ooperatingwith said die counter, a die lever pivoted on said frame and carrying said die, and a hand lever pivoted on said arm sections and adapted to depress said die and having a wide front part which engages the inner side of the widely separated front parts of said arm sections and a narrow rear part which engages the inner side of the closely spaced rear parts of said arm sections.

10. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly and consisting of two spaced apart sect-ions, the front ends of said sections being widely spaced apart and those parts of said sections in rear of their front ends being spaced closer together, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die cooperating with said die counter, a die lever' pivot-ed on said frame and carrying said die, and a hand lever which is pivoted on said arm sections and is adapted to depress said die lever and which is of channel form in cross section and has the front parts of its sides widely separated and engaging the inner sides of'the widely separated front endsof said arm sections while the rear parts of its sides are arranged closer together and engage with the inner side of the closely spaced rear parts of said armsections.

11. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die cooperating with said die counter, a die lever pivoted on said arm and carrying said die, a hand lever arranged between said arm sections and pivoted thereto and adapted to depress said die lever, and a shield arranged on the upper side of said hand lever and laterally overhanging the upper edges of the sections of said arm and projecting beyond the rear end of the hand lever.

12. A seal press having a frame provided with a base and an arm projecting from the rear part of said base upwardly and forwardly, a die counter mounted on the front part of said base, a die cooperating with said die counter, a die lever pivoted on said arm and carrying said die, a hand lever pivoted on the inner side of said arm and adapted to depress said die lever, and

a shield arranged on said hand lever and adapted to laterally overhang the sides of 10 said arm in the closed position of the lever and ro'ectin rearwardl be 0nd the rear ture.

CALDER C. GIBSON. 

